Max OS X Server Essentials

Regan and Pugh provide a pointed and clear overview of Leopard server fundamentals in their officially Apple-sanctioned guide book. The fact that it is targeted for admins, and geared for certification study kills two birds with one stone. I found the book very useful in bringing up a 10.5 server from install through providing distributed solutions via Netboot through tackling Apple's Open Directory. Overall, a very well-rounded reference I know I'll use over and over.

This book is not perfect, but the harshly negative reviews it's gotten so far are pretty much baseless. This is a book about Mac OS X Server. It is not a book about BIND or Apache or VPNs or any of the countless other services it is possible to run *on* Mac OS X Server. If you want to learn about the specifics of Apple's management utilities or are preparing for the Apple Technical Coordinator certification exams, then this is a fine book. If you know absolutely nothing about networking or server administration and want a book that's going to turn you into a sysadmin overnight, then you should definitely look elsewhere.

This is a great book for teaching those interested in getting their ACTC (Apple Certified Technical Coordinator) certification. It is not an exhaustive reference for Mac OS X Server (like Bartosh's Essential Mac OS X Panther System Administration). It's not meant to be. But if someone is wanting to get their ACTC, this book, along with the Support Essentials book (and a bit of experience with OS X and OS X Server), you've got it. I applaud Apple and Peachpit for releasing well-written books that are a cost-effective means to get OS X certifications.

I guess that this book was written to be an add-on to the Apple Training course MAc OS X Server Essentials v10.4 Student Guide and Student Workbook, the texts which go along with the 4 day server course Apple offers in various cities around the country. I remember the instructor mentioning the book, but she did not have one with her to show and recommend. I would think that the book would receive greater use if mentioned by Apple on its site. Its trainers should show how the book extends the course in its training. I finally got to see a copy of the book, and liked its fuller explanations of what Apple might have just touched on in its guide. I rate the book well, especially on the author's additions to server features.

Most people normally thing of the Mac as being a personal workstation with several advantages over those other kinds of machines. But, of course, the Mac is a fully functional general purpose computer and Mac OS X is really Linux based so that all of the normal Linux functions work. This book is specifically on using the Mac as a server. It presumes that you have some knowledge on using Mac OS X on a desktop machine, and specifically Mac OS X version 10.4. Mac OS X Server is built on top of Mac OS X. This book concentrates on the differences between the desktop and standard operating systems. ==The basic server functions covered include: Gateway Services Authenticating and Authorizing Accounts Using Open Directory Print Service File Service. The book has a brief introduction to the Enterprise level services that are included in Mac OS X Server. These include iChat, QuickTime Streaming Server, Mail Services, Web Services, XGrid, XSan. Each of these functions are worth having a book about them in their own right. And a complete description of all of them is considered outside the scope of this book. This book is part of the official Apple training series. It is used in the Apple Training and Certification Program. A CD is included which includes an Apple training video on Kerberos as well as lesson and reference files.